Golf trips do not care about county borders. While tourism brochures treat Clare and Kerry as separate regions, traveling golfers experience them as one continuous Atlantic journey.
If your goal is to combine world-class venues like Lahinch Golf Club and Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg Ireland with Kerry heavyweights like Ballybunion or Tralee, driving all the way back inland through Limerick adds hours of unnecessary windshield time.
The smartest way to connect Clare and Kerry is a linear, south-bound progression through West Clare using the Shannon Ferries | Tarbert crossing.
The West Coast Route at a Glance
[ Lahinch Golf Club ] (North Clare Anchor) │ 35-min drive (N67) [ Spanish Point Golf Club ] (9-Hole Links Option) │ 25-min drive [ Trump International Doonbeg ] (West Clare Marquee Links) │ 10-min drive [ Kilrush Golf Club ] (The Ferry Gateway & Parkland Reset) │ 10-min drive [ Killimer–Tarbert Ferry ] ── (20-min crossing) ──► [ North Kerry Links ]
Step-by-Step Route Breakdown
1. The North Clare Anchor: Lahinch
Start your journey in North Clare at Lahinch Golf Club. Featuring a historic Old Course originally laid out by Old Tom Morris and redesigned by Alister MacKenzie, Lahinch provides the quintessential old-world links experience. Stay in the village, soak up the pub culture, and launch your south-bound tour from here.
2. The Coastal Transition: Spanish Point & Doonbeg
Heading south along the N67 coastal corridor brings you to two distinct options:
- Spanish Point Golf Club: A classic 9-hole coastal links offering sweeping beach views and a quick, low-stress alternative for travel days.
- Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg Ireland: The modern marquee links of West Clare. Set among massive oceanfront blowouts along Doughmore Bay, Doonbeg offers big-dune golf paired with 5-star resort amenities.
3. The Ferry Gateway & Parkland Reset: Kilrush
After back-to-back rounds in punishing Atlantic winds at Lahinch and Doonbeg, driving straight onto another high-winds links course in Kerry often leads to "links fatigue."
Positioned just 10 minutes south of Doonbeg along the ferry route sits Kilrush Golf Club.
Kilrush offers an essential change of pace: an 18-hole, member-run parkland layout framed by mature trees and sheltered fairways. Standard visitor green fees are €35, providing exceptional value.
- Strategic Positioning: Playing a morning round at Kilrush Golf Club places you just 10 minutes from the ferry terminal.
- Tactical Reset: It gives your game a break from coastal rough and pot bunkers, letting you swing freely and protect your scorecard before tackling Kerry's heavy-hitting links.
4. The Shannon Estuary Crossing
From Kilrush, a 10-minute drive brings you to the Shannon Ferries | Tarbert terminal at Killimer.
The ferry departs every half-hour during peak season, taking just 20 minutes to cross the Shannon Estuary into Tarbert, County Kerry. This shortcut saves over 80 minutes of driving compared to traveling inland through Limerick, seamlessly dropping you right at the gateway to North Kerry's marquee courses.
Additional West Clare Options
If your schedule permits an extra night in West Clare before crossing into Kerry, consider these options:
- Kilkee Golf Club: Located 15 minutes west of Kilrush on spectacular ocean cliff-tops, offering dramatic sea views (€75 summer visitor rate).
- Loop Head Peninsula: A scenic coastal drive perfect for a non-golf afternoon before taking the ferry south.
Golden Rules for a Clare-to-Kerry Itinerary
- Travel Lightly, Move South: Do not double back to a single hotel base in North Clare if your itinerary moves into Kerry. Move your accommodation south to Doonbeg or Kilrush on night two or three.
- Build in Contrast: Do not play five consecutive marquee links rounds without a break. Mixing in a sheltered parkland layout like Kilrush Golf Club keeps your trip feeling varied rather than repetitive.
- Pace the Ferry Connection: Time your final West Clare round so you can enjoy lunch, drive 10 minutes to Killimer, roll directly onto the ferry, and arrive in Kerry relaxed for your evening check-in.
For a full West Clare routing, see a west Clare golf trip and golf in West Clare.
